Would like input on an ethical question

[cptacek]

This happens in industry too. I haven't been tasked by my boss for 6 months...and I have repeatedly asked for more work. He says he is too busy to give me something. I used to work for another group before I was moved to his, and so because I am completely bored to tears, I still do work for them.

I hate to say it, but you might need to look for another job. Don't feel bad for doing your job well. Be proud of that. At the same time, recognize that this job isn't for you and you need to be challenged. Some managers shouldn't be managers (like mine and yours, apparently) and that won't change. If you can't stand being bored for 10 hours a week, and you don't think anything will change, then you might have to get a different job.

One more thing...can you go above your manager's head to his manager? I did and it didn't do any good, but maybe in your situation it will. So, I'm looking for another job.

[Fern]

Tell your supervisor you don't have enough work to keep you busy.

[Fern]

I am a boss and I have to say, some of this responsibility rests on your supervisor, not you.

I can respect sometimes I macromanage my employees, in fact most of the time. As long as things get done, I don't care if it gets done in 2 hours or 10 hours. When something isn't done, I say,

"This isn't done. How can we get this done?" (never ask why - employees give you a million whys)

But McDonalds had it right too - "You got time to lean. . .you got time to clean."

I respect you are putting some of this onto your shoulders but at least half of this rests with the boss. He should be leveraging you better.

But this is a problem in gov't - most gov't supervisors don't have business experience and ever have to worry about a bad quarter so they don't feel any pressure to make things run efficiently.

The only other suggestion I may make is you could see if you could move your job to "contractor status." You work 10 hours for whatever your speciality is, get paid more, but off the payroll and then you leverage your time elsewhere.

If her boss manages multiple people, they may not be aware this person doesn't have enough to do to keep her busy, and so it's up to her to tell him/her.

[jodi]

"You mentioned that any promotion would require a Masters degree. Why not take that 10 hours per week and take an online class? That way when you are in a better position to have a promotion you would already be on your way toward the Masters."

Thanks for the idea, but I have absolutely no inclination to get a Masters degree or to move up the ladder. I only want to work PT, and I can't see myself doing this line of work forever (or even a few more years, some days).

"I respect you are putting some of this onto your shoulders but at least half of this rests with the boss. He should be leveraging you better.

The only other suggestion I may make is you could see if you could move your job to "contractor status." You work 10 hours for whatever your speciality is, get paid more, but off the payroll and then you leverage your time elsewhere."

My supervisor has no say as to my caseload. The limits are set by Medicaid. She cannot give me more cases to handle. I asked her yesterday if there was anything else I could be handling, and she mentioned a few ideas (i.e. starting new projects - there is nothing existing). Consequently, she came from an urban area and seems a little bored too in our rural little office.
I cannot work contractor status nor reduce my hours. Even if I had that option, I need to maintain 20 hours per week to keep benefits. My husband does not have benefits yet. If I were to take a job in the private, non profit sector, my pay would be cut by at least 1/3. I make more working half time now that I did when I left my non-profit job working FT five years ago.

"I hate to say it, but you might need to look for another job. Don't feel bad for doing your job well. Be proud of that. At the same time, recognize that this job isn't for you and you need to be challenged."

I would love to find a job that excites me, but I have to be honest - I cannot get paid this well for PT work anywhere else. So...until DH gets a FT job, here I stay.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I did speak to my supervisor about this. We have a full-time person who is retiring in two months and I offered to take on some of his duties (non caseload related). Hopefully that will help.

[AngeloAntonino]

I would ask your boss if there is anything else you can do. Tell them you have finished all your work and are looking for more to do.
If there is nothing more for you to do, then your boss should not mind you doing some reading.

Good luck.